The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, December 07, 1886, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text'Our* SflORY i A Bright Face. My name'll Henry DeUou. I am qpt&Iiafnofl -of name, even though it wnadtagraeod. My farinU carno to .Arkausas while I was very young. My father, haling the idea of ever Ily- 3k in a town, settled in tho wilderness where, a^irr **-v cm I yr.tr* of toil, he sueoeded in open ing up one of the best farms in the state. Being tdiitiili <i :tnd r- m: m1, my parents;were the lead ers of our neighborhood society, nml so familiar did enr name become that wo were known far and wide. Just about tho time I attained my nineteenth year, my parents were taken ill of a tlfocaao which waa at tint timespreading over the country, and in spite of tho best medical attention that cotild bo procured they died, both on the same day. As 1 was the only child, tho property, of course, came into my possesion. Well, it is uunecseary to dwell upon this part of thy cvcntfSl history, sol will—ignoring several years—proceedjto relate a painful experience. One day our neighborhood was shocked by t*u- discovery that a Mr. Maplcson, one of tho inost prominent men in tho community, had b*< n murdered. I was particularly shocked for, during the evening before the murdor, Mr. Ma* pietton and I had strolled together through tho Woods; |nd startling to contemplate, ho was bound near a certain old hou30 where wo had * iw.itcd. Tho next day after the body was found I was arrested, charged with tho crime, and, after an examination before u justice of fho pence, I was remanded to goal to await tho artfon of the grand Jury. It would ho (n vain to attunpt a description of my embarrassment —of my indignation. Not before I saw myself Surrounded by ironbars did I realize my awful. situation. What stung mo moot waa lh.it aim n namid Evans—a man whom I well knew aud **> boro tlio reputation of being a gcntlemm •*«woro that ho saw mo strike Mr. Maplesou hear tho old house, but, supposing that we wero playing with each other, he paid no attention to the affair, but that in horror he soon afterward dtatovered that 3Iupleson ItAd been stubbed. J lo dld'uot stop at this—he produced a knife, which he hud several other men had seen lying near the nm'rdered man—a knife bearing tho initials pt iuj* name, * ' The grand jury found an indictment against me, arid I was arraigned before the circuit court. 1 Void my furm and employed able counsel, ex- feritmed lawyers, who did everything they could for me, hut after a tedious trial I wws tetoteuced to bo haDgetl. A wore miserable, iittcrly discoiiKolale king never sat. in a cell, Vfaiting to be choked to death. Preachersca*n« xedferu*, hut my mind was so di«- _ nl lie, “a*k tlat Giver of I to forgive your sinn. Only a fow more nd you will Miami ut tho bar of God apart* islthy, ivivilcgo of meeting them. Do not bf ibr tortures of death, but think of tbosub* 1»t e life beyond tbo gravo.” ' "I am not guilty, Mr. Gray.” ^*0, young man,do not hold out Stium y. Do not, 11 beg of you, 1 Implore yonr do not perish with a falsehood on your f i ; . “I tcU no falsehood when I vow that Ia j, db/o<fnt” / j “Mr. Debson, you need not hope foecxecutivo tollmen cy. You are very young but t|ie govern- •r lm« refused to do anything in your bclialf,’* “Wbat do you want me to do, Mr. Gray.” •“Acknowledge your crimo and pray Uod f ‘Acknowledge your jisrdon.” • "I hnvo committed no crime.” ‘Think of your perishing soul.” . • “I uni Innocent.” . “I see, Mr. Dobson, that it is useless to talk tii you." ■ ■ I • "Yes, on that subject.’ . “Kemcmber that the day after tomprrow you IjBUst die.” r; \ s " " ■' ■ (7 “All right.” {“Good-bye. I hope tliat the Lord may change ybur mind.” .When the good man had gone I mused during M Jong time over what ho liad said, yet there demurred to me no ihonght of regret that I had ilainlv spoken to him. There is a strange rntion that comes to a man who Is con ed to die. Weary nights of contemplation is dread, take off tho keen edge of fear. U not a philosophy; it is a “don’t care” ‘ T* settles upon him. I was not afraid to I the King of the universe, and, knowing not a shadow of hope remained, I surren- i myself to an unjust fate. ot banged; tho governor, on account kouthfulnesa, commuted my sentence to nmtnl for life Even thta was indiscri* Bly awful; KtiU.aiu r thinkiug it over I coll ided that it was batter than being hanged. X shall never forget how I felt when I first pmt on my suit of stripe*. The thought that 1 ‘ w entirely (li-gnm ' l t n °k such deep root in 1ia mind that I doubt if I wero at the time any Miter morally than tho most hardened convict , wffbin the walla. I began to hate the world, $#vnw k, within myself, tho very idea of hon- m and virtue, Ou .Sunday* wo wero com pelled to listen to long sermons, delivered by pvraehm not distinguished for eloquence. I evmutlruc* thought that, knowing that we cyuld toot leave tho cliapel, they took a peculiar dc- Vlgbt in lengthening their dtarouraeft. One day Sir-Gray (aiuo out bathe did not pay any ■fevcial attention to me. Thkstungmc, and an I lot on a bench looking At him—I won’t wy that 1 ww listi ning to him—I hated tbo old min. 1 ought to bnvr Ken ashamed of myaol^ but I f< rgotten the meaning vf shame. The uppermost thought In my mind was the thought to escape. I had lost everything but I ‘ ' ire for freedom. My chance came. One *| r a number of us were penned in a . near a coal mine, into whose dark xfU’lh wo werp daily driven, I heard one of tho fitted ray to a companion tliat ho wa3 so sleepy iloVcaiccIy hoM hta eyes open. „ _ umX\ the companirn replied, “and, to . Jyou the truth; I Wouldn’t be surprised if I !di< ms l ule nodding tonight.” Ckav.JIr.g over where several of my vilea-uo* “ ih by, l communicated tile intelligence kh I liul caught. They agreed with mo that it into Eta come. We Kept tho secret closely Medrknowing*that a general rush would bo Ifa. our plane. We made nurstciUbj move ! ho o'clock In tho morning. We climbed ferns- with but little trouble. I patted near rf tlw guard-,. He Was sitting, leaning back » stomp, and tva. sound aI look and Lot of cartridge* which he had de ne the ground roer him. Wc >poi • not until wo were fully a half mile fro n ie of -our Impxboamcnt. Then wo and laughed. By the- time the sun rote .mite a nnmbf-r of miles from tho " but wo knew that wo should bo . Hunger bcpiti to pinch ns. This was for. dittoed a- wo w reyredare not go a kffir.fiAtaWtatiou Tie next 'd.y we rod and hold a consultation. It was better ttfanturethun to gohnnifry, terror linjly to call at the; ne-xt house. SVe o>-n •'•toekadf.” n | tcre d Tp^ouse^TherewaBWooncathomocx^ S pt n little girl, about twelve years old. She was He most beautiful child I have ever seen. 8he was frightened at first, but soon recovering, shol pave us something to eat. She otercised j strange influence on mo. Her sweet facon once reminded nic that pnrltr cxlstMl in j world. She took a special liking to me, n H I when I hinted that I would like to have an old psuit of clothes, that I was tired of wearing ugly | stripes, she, not knowing that she was commit ting a crime, procured for me nn old suit of blpthcs. At tho gate 1 kissed her Irand. My com* pauions. three vile v> retches, were not imnrcsied bythofittlc girl, nml hud Lnot possessed a gnn I cm sure that they would have robbed the boupc. | Wc had not gone much farther when puinn er* came within sight. Then there was a racol for liberty. I was Celt, more so than thfl I wretches. About the tlmebuight set hi twoool my fellow convicts luul e ecu captured. Tlio other one kept close to m * A gun fired,I heard a yell. Looking around, law him fair. Th: darkness and the dense woods prote?tjd me. I escaped. Finding a canoe, I creasei tho rivor. The face of the little girl was constantly before me. | I succeed in making my way to New York. In the great city 1 was comparatively safe. Un der an assumed name I went to work in a man] ufacturing establishment. I bent my ever energy to the work, and, from time to t.mo was promoted. Three years from the t m r L entered tho establishment I was tho s iper n-L tendent of tho entire works. My services be came so valuable that I was admitted as a' nor. I saved my money and became wml yet, not for a moment di<‘ L ihct that I was a convict. One day, while on a ferry boat, I took op L newspaper which some one hod left on a choir. Opening it, I saw that it was an Arkansas sheet The next moment I was thrilled. Below start ling headlines appeared the following: ■■ ‘‘Several years ago a highly respected yonnj: man, named Hcnnr Debson, was convicted o ’ tho crimo of murdering.one of our most prom inent citizens, a Mr. Maplcson. Debson wax sentenced to be hanged, but tho governor com muted his sentence to imprisonment for life. Debson escaped and jvent, no one knows whither. Now comes tho'real tragedy. About a month ago a man named - Evans,- who sworo that he had seen Dmfbto strike Maplcson, aud who found near the sceno of the murder, a knife bearing tho initials of Debson’a name, vu's t.’.Ven violently ill. lb-lb-ving recovery lo lx? impossible, and fearing to die with such r burden on hLs heart, he confessed that he, in- Fpircd by bitter enmity, had murdered Maple •i.n. From the very moment of the confovdon }»? began to improve, *Und soon became so well that he was taken to mfepn. After a short trial, during which ho did not attempt to make defense, ho teas scntcuccd to bo lunged. Tl execution took place last Friday, and was wl netsed by a large exowd of people. The publi deeply sympathises with .young lk-ltson, nml .-houM lif t v(-r come back to the j>tate ho will cntUpsiastisM'dliou.'’ .. .. ; " v partner* the jexiM'nence through which 1 Jind passed. I shuwea^bemthe Arkansas paper. hTy I'.-irtniT* wVre rejrilced. They declared that Miclui vindication was worth half a lifetime of ^TwBwhtely set out for Arkansas. I indood received an ovutiou. Mr. Gray, tho old minis ter, took me hy tho hand and said: “1 was Intimate with your father and did not see how bis sou could commit such m crime, but tho proof was so strong against you. Your canust protestations of innocence caused me to call u * * ' ’ ' call upoi behalf” iu tho governor aud inlorccdo in your I jnmhftscd tho farm where I hail spent a happy childhood. Everyone was desirous of bestowing honor* upon mo, and the governor liter ftll to think of the little girl whose beautiful face bad banished my intentions of becoming an outlaw. I hail gono to tbo houso where J had seen her, hut her father, a Mr. Miller, hod moved away, and no one in the neighborhood knew his place of residence. One night, at a theatre in Llttlo Bock, I saw that dice. I knew It in a moment. At tho conclusion of tho per formance l followed the girl, who, in company with snold man. went to a hotel. 1 introduced myself to Mr. .Milter, aud ho introduced mo to his daughter Ida. “I htvo seen you before, somewhere,” she Mid. “Yon have seen me.” When?” T will tell you when we become better ac quainted.” I did tell her—told her ono night when who had promised to be my wife. Several years have elapsed since our marriage. Wo live in New York most of the time and the old man Miller lives with us. I lmvo built a monument above Sir. Gray'a resting place. Our MtuUtef to Mexloo* From the ft. Louis Globe Democrat. Dispatches received today atate that nothing Is known in Washington of Manning’s grave indiscretion except tho newspaper accounts that hot mnch importance is attached to them; how true everything fa than tho Associate! Press agent here, who suppressed tho matter at the request of Malinina am! friend*. As to yard denying the receipt of Manning’s crim inating telegram it is the story of bis denial the porvh. tolegnm In relation to Sedgwick ov.*r again. Manning sent tho telegram, which read as follows: “Have been drunk three days, hut have not left roy room and created no scaudal. Hit- 1* nd judgment until you hear from me more A southern gentleman, familiar with Minister Mfinnlog’s habits of conviviality, gtvei> an Inttren- iug account of bfa methods in this direction: •*3fr. Manning la afflicted with this sort of thing regularly twice a year. It wane* upon him lire- aMiutf. and ht prepares systematically to submit’ to ft. Ifo will goto his barber and get a clean shave, then put on hi* bqst clothes (and ho law ronnobwfettr in sartorial matters), and after that will take a long, vigorous wslk. lie U a handsome, lordly-looking mao, and on this preliminary wslk jot: might mistake him for a member or some royal family traveling Incognita He then to his ro'im, locks and bars the door, and at ike he* l cfbLv tcdT.e places* a stand on whMi hoarraawi as comprehensive on amortmeut of liquor* a* be can picture. Thera will be food oi l brandy, Ken tucky rye, absinthe, sherry for contrast, And perhaps cUretandabf»bowtof punch. The fin* dollies art doffed, an embroidered night gown pot on. Then, wit Its good novel In band. Manning goes to bed aud begins on the punch. Be makus no provision for food, and drinka at one kind of liquor until it is sU gone or his stomach refoses to take more of it Then he attack* something ah* for a change, and so be keeps on tor four or Are day*. Then, alter a deep sleep, be rites, opens hk door, and ran* la his physician, under whose charge he remains for a week or mure, as tick a man as yon can imagine; Then some fine morning you will see him out walking down the street again, m oth- hat n, erect, well dreaaed. a king among men. There are few men of greater ability in the diplomatic service Except on theae two - '-mi-annual obliqui- annlog asm drinks,, tad be might bo loots * open as a prohibitionist,' ’ . A Fisherman’s Story. From Ibc London TidblU. Tho part of thr country from which Ihilll w,t about M wild aa this. No ahips ever pot In there, for Pcngothlyn waa but a fishing hamlet. Nererthrleae, many a atorm-loascd vessel had made for tho coast, hoping <ofiudatafo haven, hut finding ahlp- weerk instead. It bad been there many yean when I, a youngster, first started In partnenhip wlt'i Owen Fenley, aa fishers. Wohad begun life, as it were, together, for we were about tho same age. Together, aa lads, we had helped the fish ers to land their fish and dry their nets; togeth er we had gone oat in our Cithers’ boats to fish ourselves, and together we made a plan to save ail the money we could aud buy a boat of out own. Both of ns believed there wasn't a secret tho other didn't share; yet each had ono close lock* cd in his own breast—a secret that Incited us to toll night nml day to purchase tho boat, which would ltiako us somebodies with the rest. Jlnt tbo truth was, wo only desired to bo of consequence to one, and unfortunately, it was the same one—Jessie Bcdburn, tho only child of old Jack Bedbnrn, the most weil-to-elu fish, ertnsn In all rengethlyn. Didn’t Owen and 1 work! A rough see didn't I scare us. We wen the earliest out and the soonest home, always with a good supply; and finally, as prond as if we wero captains of a three-decker, we became the owners of a right- ond-tlght smack of our own. Wo'd had tho boat nearly a month, when ono morning, coming down to tho beach, I found Jessie seeing her lather off in bis smack, ifo wanted fresh salts, also new rigging, aud vras goiug to a shipwright's at tho seaport threo Irollta along the coast. 'Shall I lend you n hand, Mr. Itedburn?'’ I I asked, ‘•No, lad; no, thank ye,’’ho answered. “You’d n lmrcl night’s work or it, I hear.’’ ’Tirtty etiff,” I rejoined; “but wo made good hauls.’’ o. „.. v H home to dinner,”, said Jessie. Jlc waved his hnnd, and she stood using her hand ns n shade from the sunlight, Watching him round the headland. NiV! r had I thought lin so pretty. Clcnriu;; my tliruot nervously, I said: "I wish lavas your fattier, Jessie.” '•What! wrinkles, gray hair, and nil?” sho luuglnri. ''Gracious!—why?” ."Bemuse it must bo so pleasant when start ing fishing to have some ono to seo yon oiT, and to know somebody's waiting for you at homo, and keeping tho lire bright for your roturn.” ‘Then,” she replied, "why don't you get some one?” ‘Because," T rejoined, awaro that my voice trembled, "the ono 1 want, tho only one I'd eve, wouldn't havo me. I'd bo Itko your Jessie, wrinkles, gray hair aud all, if nnyrleSr/^sh^^diedb^nU^neryiiusly, .‘‘Von should know better than any one. ■ asked her this very moment, O, Jessie!''—and I slijrefi my arm round her waist—"don't you know that I mean yourself?” “Won't yon answer me', Jessie?” I whisper ed. "Think how painful is roy suspense!” She turned, then looked np a moment, then down ogain, as she murmured, “J—I thought; I Amos, you knew all along that I loved yon.” In my joy I can’t recollect what I answered, hut I caught her in my arms and kissed her. I could hare sung aud danced, I was so happy. I was aronred by ray partner’s voice. "i'in off, Amos, to tho town,” ho calloe add more grist to tho mill. Ha! ha! Kiri lock In timo to start tonight.” ■ “All right,” I answered; “I will wait.” Owen Tcnley in build would have made two lofme. lie was broadly set and with the strength of a bail. He could ’with ease hold tiller steady in a rough sea, when another wa jad to strain every nerve. IIo wusdark, goot with a square forehead, crowned hy a] ilack hair. His eyes wero black and a violent temper. It Owen’s case, llo kept It w' right in . wisely under control; hut I had seen one or two terrible outbursts when some fishers had by accident fouled onr nets With their boat. It wanted rather over half an hoar to oar starting that night when Owen knocked' at my door. ■T’ve come back,” he said, looking In. “Ill he down on the beach in time. Yon see to tha bout, Amee, old fellow." I noticed he appeared in remarkably high spirits, end the thought came Into my head that he had been taking an extra glass Taking my bat I quitted the cottage. Aal did so I Beard Owen’s voice trolling a song. “I never saw him so merry,” I said to myself. “I fear that extra glass has excited him,” Owen's high spirit* hail not lessened when hr Joined me, and when are wero flying over the swelling billows I Jest I ugly told him his mirth would I bten the fish away .on nan suuueniy vamsnea oenina a cloud, dark and lowering waa its expression. Ills irk brows were brought together; his eyes abed upon me as if lira want in them; hla tip* But Indeed my mirth wiAlttle less than bis; and we were more like two schoolboys than practical fishermen when we east onr nets. At we did ho, the moon Belled from behind a cloud, spreading over tbo waters a silvery light. “If I'm mad, Amos, you’ro iussuc.” said Owen, after we had been laughing. "I never mw yon in such spirits befbro. What's coma over von? What's making you so happy?” “Secret for secret; that's but firfr,” I aa- wered. “Well, mine first. I've no objection, Owen, for today has made me the happiest man in Ibe World. Jessie Bedbnrn has con sented to he my wife.’’ “What!” The word echoed lond across the water* at Owen Peniey leaped to his feet. I have never forgotten how be looked at that moment. The change on his countenance was as though the moon bad suddenly vanished behind a cloud, to dark and lower »n black flashed . . were compassed, bis bands clenched. Ail mirth had gone. He towered over mo like a giant, or the madman that be really was. “What's the matter, Owen?” I inquired, " fiimy those words, Ames!’’ he said, hoarse ly, between his teeth. “A*you value your Bib, it word*?” I asked. “That Jessie hat promised to bo my wiftr I cannot! Why should It” "Why?" he almost shouted. “Beeansel lore her. Bccausel have workedJoilcil, sivcdmly for one purpose—to make her my wifi,! How' dare you, Amor, come sneaking in betweei ? How dare yen interfere with my happiness?*' “Yon love J>saic Bedbnrn,too? Iijienlated, diet rereed. "I am sorry, Owen; I never gnctied it»” “Then now yon know," ho broke In, “yoo _n»t give ler up." “I? You talk folly, Owen! Beside*, surely It ll for Jo lie to decide, and she ha* decided.” beeecse you asked her first,” he ex- so strange sn expression on his features that ss I glanced round at the waste of water I war frightened. “I meant to aek her tomorrow. * ‘wight this for her only today!” Taking hlte box he plucked from It a pre ty sil ver l mo. h. “You wood*rod ut my nlrh spir it* They were becauesl felt rich enough to ink Jessie lobe n,y wife; and—now ’’ H jo UN il, l lien added, with startling calmness and ir Unity, “Amus.wlvo her dip, for I AM yon rlsil nt\ef wed birr!” “Do you take me for a coward, OWon? Aa ycu 1 avo toiled and worked, so have I, for tbo rure purpose. I would rather surtender my life then Jessie.- With a howl of rage ho leaped’at mo, but, smi'ietlng him, I Nixed a broken oar and stood uri the defenrlvse Owin'linked ronud for a weapon. To my he,ror, ho seised an ailxo dose to bis feet, and esurlit it np. ' , 1 fell that ror Into was scaled. lie was a gsint to rue, and wo wero nlono at night at sea, tto moon the sole witness. But ten non had not entirely forsaken lilm J “No,” •>* exclaimed, “Ml not strike yon down, as 1 could. Your body rhlght he washed ashore, end 1 secured' of having killed you. Then Jcnic wouldn't marry me. But you shall, die for all that, and it shall be thought an arc!- det t,” \\ heir npou, raising the adzo with a giant’s treegth. h c rommencnl chopping away at tho hot ton' planks of tho boat ML intended to swamp it. llo was an exccL lent iwimmer, I a poor ono. Fixing the rapidfy flying chips I sprang for- ward, striking with nil my might at tho nud- man, for so I considered him. With a mocking lnugii ho jvirricd the blow. Again I striiek at him. As I did so my foct splashed in Hater. lie had succeeded in malting the leak, Tho smack w as filling fast. • I knew wo wi re l<»o far from tho land for me «*er to rvnek it by switnmlug, though ho zqlgM. . J $aw death waa certain; dcwpalr mstlo me Airlous. I thought of • Joa»*o—my bo- trotlicit .but for n f* w hours. Taking tho oar in both hands, ray tooth sot, I daslicd at my would be destroyer. ili- t-k illl ullv avoiihtl I lii'bloW, rushed at 0)0, seized me in hLs arms and lifted me Into tho air like a child* Was ho going to fling mo Into tho sea? No. Even as tho thought passed through my brain, like a' wrestler he hurled mo down with fearful \ ieh nee to the bottom of the boat, ’ I was coiisciouK of a sudden i*aiu hi my hip, end of deadly hlckmss. Then my heart throb bed with n great joy, for I heard our smack bo* inghailed. Another Usher’S boat was near. Baiting my vdeo I called aloud for holp. My cncray stood a moment undecided, then, the loom on JiJh Up. 4 * nItova again to lift mo; but,« clrepite the agony I suffered I clung to tho mart, made strong by hearing tho voices corn- tig closer. Owen heard I hem too. Ho ground liU teeth ns he hif-wd In my ear, “If you've oscaped mo now, AnuC it Uonly for a time! Wo two will racct again; when there shall bo no chance of others parting ti*.” Ho Kiyiuy he loft me, and, ns I mw him spring into the sen, I bocamo iuwuwibb*. When I come to 1 found mp.-IC in my own bed, suffering nsany In tny hip. A doctor had me n scut for, and when he enmg'lic huid.il myl been dislocated. It o os a long JfoiCji-., aud qply Jrwio'f” lovi kept tnofoorii oenpr.tr, tor hot only was m.\ brat gone, but I was told 1 should bo lamo all •tny life J nn.ltd when I li. aid it. nml th'»u;:ht, “Purely .Irede will not bo to blamo If sho re- ftwfc wo now.” Blit *uch nn Idea never entered her mind, nor old Bodburu’s. Bho was fondness, ho kind- httsiUelf. . . M'hen finally I could limp out, with a stb-k, Into the sunshine, it was Jesde's arm on which 1 leaned. OfOwo*ir.o ono heard anything. It was sald, stro ig urtmmcr though he was, ho oouid never havo reaohed land for tho lido waa run ning out. lire surmise waa that ho had sunk, and hla body had been carried ont to aqg. JEFF DAVIS AND THE ORPHAN. BILL ARP’S LETTER. THECHBROKEEPMfUJSOPHSR DIS CUSSES THECONVICT QUESTION. Dr. Wrotmorcland 0ms Th r. Is St L»ut On# Han dies Ccnrlot. Whs Should bs Y*rdoMd~Ths Wt frntn* rnt as n Pr.T uttr. Of Crime -The KIbto sad th. Hot., Ett. From tho Ik suvoIrCorrcipondenn Bo ton Oinbe. “One morning my train, which jns tho Ant one to go thinUKh to New Orleans, ran coiuiil- cnbly past Bcauvnir station, and tho engineer btal to rovcrac and go Iwck to pick up a co 1 of passengers. Otic of thorn was Mr. lh llo bearded tho hut car aud sat down in a siut behind n young co iplo who got on just above MississippiCJty. They had evidently Jost been marriixt, and were rankee to tho backbone. IUilid from ntlladclphia, as 1 lamed after wards. Bbe was very pretty but evidently dts- gustul with the 'south. I’rosontly I ut down just behind Mr. Davis, in timo to (oar the young lady my, ‘what placo waa that where we stopped Just now?”’ " ‘Beauvoir, I Ixllovc,’ answered tho young follow, without looking up from hbi news- *”"^Why, that’s where Jrlf Davis lives,’ sho exclaimed; then In an uaderbreath, ’The old rcUd; ho ought to have bun bung!’ “'And prey. Mis*,’ said « stately voice at her elbow, why do you, n young, Innocent girl, E rnneunco such a harsh condemnation on imF “'Because,’she replied, not recognising tho speaker, ’because ho deserved it. llo tried to ruin our country, and caused thousamUof bravo in rn to die. Ho made widows and orphans, ho made mo an orphan,’ and tears swelled into her eyes. ’Did Jeff Davis do all that?’ asked Uio man huskily. “Tho girl looked curiously over her .shoulder and aid; T believe ho wssrorponsibiforlt.’ “Tho stranger bowed in silence, and when bo raised his head tears toil ou hix coat sleeve aa ho said: ‘I understand the spirit which prompt ed you to speak, hut I wish to correct tho view you entertain of Jefferson Iktrls.’ “Ho is not tbo cruel person your Imagination paints him, young lady. Here in the south, as well as In the north, arc thousands of mourn ers for dear tnoe who foil in the war. Jefferson Devis sympathises with all. Whether tho Muc or grey nukt s no difference now. You, I take it, arc a addict's orphan. In the Urn of your firthcryou have Mr. Davis’s sincere pity, if bo can aid you in any way he will gladly dose."’ With tho words the stranger look a card from hi* porker,, end pneenting it to tbo young lady loft tbo car. Hite read tho name in alienee and banded It to her Somewhat annoyed row- tsnifn. Much to his surprise he saw inscribed n ■ plain, firm hnnd tho name, jF.rrxnsox Davis, Beauvoir, Mississippi.. On the It to <11 Ho moo, Brasil. By James tv. Writs. _ ve* ef fnrr»t,the torn* •11 ti*»h rnrf *p*rkte Mkojewk. On the rtrer, hen •nd there, f*tcb$* of riling «por partly ob*euroJ 111 kbctu ofglcatuiug gold, until • ffcutto breeze carried avrajrtho mh t In the fointott of ctiwdi. The d In the amoktnf water*; gay UufbronM kiogfeheradarted tmm.tbeirpercbe*on the bleach- «<i nkeltlon trunkiof atrapded atiaga; whita berooa ■kimmed ibe water* wltb wida ouUtretchcd wing; ekada of noiry, cfaUtfHag parroqaetfl flew by, na- RM-rotu until bird* twittered and chirruped, and In the.wood* the roarofgaarfbM, or howling monk- ey*. aeboed al»d reechoed from cl iff to cliff of tha batik*. It aa< a idctur* that even In tho ab*cneaof prmwal roaifott ctoe aonld gaze upow wlib dellghtr and all natu*n itemed to welcome tha nry dawn ard pure, frefe ah after the tobirrottVd»:k**sa? Feme darky will havo to atcaf Dr. Woat- raoreland’a horse. I was talking to him the other duy and he aald there were at least a hur.dicd convict* who ought to be pardoned. Mayl e there are. I hope ao. 1 wfah somebody would take the trouble to find out—no doubt tbcie are mint* under long scpUticc* who havo not n frit nd in tho world to apeak a kind wetd for them. I don’t allude to thoae con fined for outragrs that shock all charity, but those confined for larceny and assault. The kiml-hcartcd doctor said there was ono man la for twenty years fof stealing a bushel and a half of corny and that ho M already - served thirteen yean of the time. Well, now, there Is a case for clemency. Olonel Towers explained by saying that the law soon* after tho war was twenty years for burglary In the night time, and that this man btoko into a house in tho night and stolo tho corn. Well, they moot always break into a In ure when they steal corn and always In the night. There are white men nil about who havo done meaner things. They will cieat and swindle and they know how to keep clear of tho law. When tho negro gets anything wrongfully he steals it? hut tho while man will lay his plans and cheat for it. When the white man does steal ho got*.tho whole hog and takes all ho ran get, hut tho negro steals little things. That is Iho difference. Dr» Wifetraorelahd said that if Governor Steph ens had lived until now ho would have par doned about half, tho convicts. But Colonel Towi-n thought the doctor was mistaken nn<l •be told us about Sunset Cox writing n long let ter to Mr^Stephens about a New Yorker who •nil In. thl- li for jMM’kft-pii'king in Atlanta on boiuo public oc casion, nod Mr. Cox instated that it must bo a mlitako—that the young man was of a good family and there was no necessi ty for him to do such a thing. Mr. Stephens sent for Colonel Towers and then sent for tho cvldence.that was on file. He h < im 4 to want to turn the follow out before sundown. Colonel Tiw«n watclii'l him us he. pnuhM the evi dence, or.d before ho . hod finished ho become excited, and suddenly 'throwing tho | nptiu upon tho table, exclaimed: “Why, this JeJlow i»a thief—an artful, professional tkjof. llo deserves his sentance. 1 will write to Mr. Cox tlmt his sympathy is wasted.” Ot the iegtainturo is reluctant to nmko * they oiqrht gang. There is not a planter who Works co!or< dhibor .but will WT so. it h not only better fort he offender, but it ta moro mer ciful and luorccflcctual to reform hlm-Sometimcs tie Master acts as judge and jury and .li. riff, or.d udmintatcra the punMimcnt with tlm consent of tho offender and bta father, aud thus settles it. The law has uo tcrr< tads from twdvo’to sixteen, hut tho lash has, I wonder wliat the legislature arc going ta do with tho convicts. Most everybody Is ngilnst the picfcnt system* but nobody has offered irahstitato tliat I have heard of 1 was inf"! nit ii upon good authority that Governor McDaniel had sufficient eanao to cancel ono of tho lease contracts and tako away tho convict* from the lessee, and he wanted to do so, but tho question rflnm up hoforc him, “What shall I ’n V * *—I hide a switch, “be ta burning.” lie la working by analysis now, aud Vill get tho answer, boa he. iiad tOcomc south to doit. The trouble with onr northern brethren ta they want t • - — — figulnto tbo world* afar off. I suppoeo wo are their d^pciulcnc'.ta, their provinces, their tribute-payers and hare to help pension their soldiers and widows and pay their war debt* and so forth. tiny luittoU chanfron in tiro Ux, <" Iq, inn uitro nWh'nnt of v»w xrtirwvrfli'nsss the tvbifrotnx post It TUcrc Is not u til hut then il UTomes a king or t» governot oven a tyrant to visit hi* hamblo subjects < in awhile Just to seo bow thoy nro gel along. Fo we ore gliui thnt Mr. Vmrr son Mr. Harpereonte. MaybetYkflMMr Iteifi trill runic soon and bs might bring Brother Bl.tine along. Wo don't care. Brother Hayes nine ■town not long ago and nobody hurt him. la flict wo treated him moro liko bo tvtu n lord than a while houso s cooper. If that poor Miner who stolo tho hnsliel nml n half of com h»<! only stolen a presidency it would be ail right, llut Mr. Hayes was down l here In a good eanao—Uia canso of prison re form—and I hope he has repented, and da try- ■ ing to make amcndi In hla old ago. My good friend, Dan Callahan, of railroad fuino, traveled with one of those northern men yvlto baton red to the prison congress, hut Dun did. nt know his oflidsl btulnees; and so, after they had re tired to opposite berths lu tho sleeper, thoy ron- tinned to tjdk, nnd suddenly tho Illinois rasa. Him neighed mmilliing under » leu, redd: “By tho way, my fricud, bo you not one of tin ;>re>.n fi ]!nn<'" ■ ; -' Well, Mr. thllftimti luul nevr r heard any thing nisrut the prison rongress, nttd his Irish blood *’ gid hut ilium distely. “What d» you lnaito, sir? Do yon msne to . in-tilt nn?” and Dsn whs about lo go for him. j “< Hi, no, not nt all,”said Illhiols. "1 thought maybe you n os one of these national prison fol- I. us going tu Atlanta, and” - "No, sir,” satil Dnn, "I’m nono of yonr lirl/ou fellows, neither state nor national, ’ Do I look like a prison tidier? What made yon lake roe for a Prison feller? Tell mo tlmt. If you phase?” And he kept on getting madder nml morefririutiaeruntilauoihcrgcutloinan put in oinl explained and rondo matters all calm amt serene. BILL Aar. THE WEST CARROLL TRAGEDY. ilh them?' it, he luul atsnd and be|t«r treatment. ho eould not noswur lease _*| Into I naked John what ho thought a lout It, and ho looked away off and enid,”‘Duuno—'clure I duuno. 'Hpecit wo bet ter sell’em agin, if a nigger ain't fitlcn fer hla fnrilom den better tako hia freedom away, 1 hnosvs m vtil nigger* In dia nalairhuod what ought to li'long to somo whste roan J<* like Any u*vn to. Bfcn I bad do mnncjr t’d buy Kftn I bad do money I’d two tnysof, and I lay l nuke 'em behave, ami work, too.” John knows right smart of Xcrip- for, and baa got some original Ideas, lie airs he betn link a heap about da nigger and do mule and what mako ’em ao ’greeablo ono anudder and he have struck It aho re. “Old Noah,” says lie, “nehher took nary one of ’em Inter do ark, hut Jcs leP 'nn out in do rain and dey had to rhIU round and round togeddrr and mako • nilTnr runipln, and dey got InlimMo liko and dry torn 1) krone antnldcr eber sioce." and John laughs Mg at bta discovery. believe tho • • is more ce rtain toys they luvo slackened up Incrime and don't patronise the ehaingnng quite as llberelly aa they did a year or two ago. The country dar kles lire behaving very well. Tho rhalngang baa (o rely un the cithsi now. There are l.lt from Kavannah, 1W from At lanta. M from Columbus, G3 from Miron, ami thirty-seven from Augusta. Angustamakee a gcul showing for her rolored populatian. At lanta makes tbo wont according to population. Dougherty llntrhina says It laoka like every trilling, no-’toout darky run* to Atlanta. Dougherty Is the okl rellablo basher, the At lanta pioneer. He ha* been there shoot forty yisresnd was always foitbfril. I used to play with him whi n I waa a boy. When Dougherty dies he ought to have a monument put over hia grevo for hia good example. Ifesiya bought ho would get ahead a llttlo and by he thought he would get ahead _ up something, so that he eould quit work and rest; but there trifling, bay niggere won't let him. They quarter on him. and lira off of him, and frolic around. Well, that b another trait shout the negro-he will dlvldc-he never toms a fellow-darky from bb door. Ha b not going to hunt him np to foes! him, but he won’t refuse him. 'In fket be will hide out bb snp- liesffbc enn, and retort to strategy. I havo ..now one to ask another for a chaaw of tobcco when he himself had a whole ping in r icket. John killed bb pig bat night after to keep the nation from finding ont be — —* —i of. II. havo right smart company next Ban- had !t sh pork, hot they will get somo < John sojs they ran smell like a buzsarJ.ai is Irousd to havo right smart company next day. for dey will come dreppln in shore, I lave there ohMkshivnra di darkle* who wore rais'd by whlto folk*. There are aoine of tha —— —- ■— 'fover,' hot not many; all in all, we ate gettlnx along pretty ■•well togetho', notwithstanding the continued .rolls or Brother Bbino and company to raise munand a foasbetween us. TboyharabesQ They i ... me of my boys, who peg away at a sum in tho arithmetic fora long times and tbonderbro the answer in the book b wrrong. Wc havo bum telling Bbino and Lot-an aud company for twenty yesno that the answer to tho ne gro problem h, ‘Y.u Just let tins alona,” and they won't .haltava it. hni arebwr tini-foraome otie r answer. Isn h L dto aee that Ctlaa. Dn-ilov Wsmerjs getting c't-ro to IL A* thq chlldrqa ijay. when thoy The Investigation hy tlw Coroner's Jury—A lloy'a K«l<lcnc«a l’noviDKNCF, Lh., NtiVt-mta r 20.—S. WU- knwskI, representative fttntfWdt Gnrroli par* tali, nniio in-tv this nftmiiwn sml n-portod having been wnylnhl in hit ]<iri.ih hy it gang off otrtTnwa, nninhrriiiK «l»out ten j»crs>nM. lie* warn ncrouiismird l»y two frirmlH. IIo rxpriMMid hiidM-lf :n fortunnto in i‘Hca}>ing nation hy inking tho nw*R Ho flirtIior r.';*»rtod that about ten o’cloclc Ins-t night life l»:>ok- bet-pcT, Mnjor John McKay, Jwtico of tho pcarcg wnn allot amt kilini at hfa homo, nfwmt jour Diilca from Caledonia, v.togi-thrr with cook. HU dmlltflir wa* wit Hro, and both hod kit consumed. WllkowsVl him lar^t* imNimwa •rii* iu W«*st Carr<*ll petrixb, where h« h*a lived a gTrat many years and hrvnght up kta tsiailT.Sbhom h* Vf*R compelledfiolea\-c bchIM ’•fTi-wor Ihsthc might iveapo tho clntcho* of tho outlaws. Tho mnrdonrH of McKay will, uo douht, be fiiJJy Jtlcuif- fled, lx cause they stopped tho t«ttUl of Wilknwrki nrtnniiuff homo from Asht-m yesterday, nt nixtut noon, when it hud fra versed lullT tlui distance, and boat tli<- driver raerd- lcf8l>'. Throe colored men who l uul clinrgo of tl.o wngon knew tlio men, hut only ono of them hus roiiirnod, nnd ho Is in town with Wit- kuwrkf. It win Wllkowski’s eteston to go to Ashton every Htnoluv to maet tho packet, Imt for some rcuson ho did not go yesterday. Tlio lnwloss gang woro thus dixnpjKiiiitcl In not meeting him. Mnjor .McKay was much re spected by every one. NgW Obi.kaB*, December L—Governor MiGrciy has buiod n proclamation "Ili ring a rewnni of fi!,000 for tho arrest of tho norpelni- totsof West Cnrroll outrage, and calling upon , . nwqa all good cltiscns In hunt them down. The Hint's this wouliig published an Inter view with Non bud Holmes, resident of Chicot roanly, ArkunMs, niUoInlng West thrroll par- ish, in regstd to tlio mstlcr. IIolmM stated that the whole a (fair was tho result of 1 feeling between Hlmoo Wllkowskl nml fanners in tlmt section. Wllkowskl, ha add, nuna into West fhrro!) with his hroihcr Julius Just brforo the bto wsr. They wero Israollti, lieddlen from I’ubnd. They would inaka heir hradqusrtera at fko D.ivis phubtlon aiut ovohtnally trognu to fool tuurh at home' Ibvls died just before tho rlore of the war, and Julius pisrricd Mrs. Duvls, from whom Iiu wax divorced a few yeati afterward. A ilaughlcr of Ml*. Davis, then ‘seventeen yean of "go. showed some dlsposil Ions gal nit Wllkowskl und her mother rent her off to a convent. Betnra- Ing from tho convent sho married Simon, tho beiroof the present ease, and her nnfortiinatu representative. Tho two brotbrM nt onco »l>- retlted the interest of tbo DnvU plantation and established their couutry sloro near Udodoiib. There thoy bagsB their systematu-oi on "f ruring confessed Judgments. By llitss nuaius they secured powerful polltlnil inllocnco. Tlxi scenes In West thrroll were hat tlio result of an uprising of the prnjdo ng-dnst the wrong* under which thoy nave suffered for tbo past twenty yean. I-AKR PxovinrxiT, I*., Decembers.—II. O Brlgg, n justlooof the peace, who held un Bl uest upon th. charred remain* of Mgjor John leKay and Marin itutesy, who were mimlen.l on Kunday evening, arrived licro today. Hu rays thty found only McKay's head anil a few bbekrned bone* Just over tho fireplace. A woman’s crisp skeleton was discovered in a dis tant part of the room. All tho flesh was burn ed off. Witneosea ware summoned, but ouljr one knew anything about tho torriblo affair. He was a colored hoy, about nineteen years old. S a son of tho murdered woman. Hu stated that about ten o'clock Sunday night somo ouo knocked at MrKay’a door. Tiro major opemd it and Invited tbo person to a teat. Tho nuns would not a drink of well to get away he acmuning. morenoiM dark to ) tel) wl knocked water, but Imt gave a badly frig! d he only w anted rnt witness to tho ho gotten Mop* and hix mother ” Witness heard en, hot it was ton i waa pressed to ,n waa that >r nnd wanted t Hot know till", ;m. Witniam wa* From the Atignsta, Ca., Chronicle. The Albany New* appears to discredit a spo'lag toTaaComrmmoxtrom AiinWrei, Ala., which give* in account of a wagon lath" posscadonof Mr. L. L Allen, tlmt wa* to os* to ISM tn trim-fcr- Ing Indium acres* tha Mississippi river, aod Is now in good nmning comlltion. We believe the report. Mr. N. B. Moore, a ho tn long and so sun ivsfol ly conducud s model groaa farm m «r this city, whilo lib nelghlurs werap*- rio-llcallr breaking on cotton culturo, urod Ut* same vshlclcx and Impicmants for m«uy yesi*. II* took rue of everything. Kcps/r* net* mad* promptly and subsuntlstty. Faiato wss used rogss- tarty. Nothing subject to decay wsscita* d to lh* weather unduly. 1 he consequence ss that whlto ret lies pis uts rs wore buying ou credit, Mr. Moor* ksd Ms tools and veMrli* to um from sMaaa ** s ascu. Man) farmers wero wiolo then and saw ion. c now ■>.. ibr poorer iw s w mull spu ox uaas terhd that a Li’ltc care wooM bars tovtd. INDISTINCT PRINT II

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, December 07, 1886, Image 1